Police in Kolkata have arrested seven people including puja organisers after a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal killed 19 people and injured dozens on Saturday evening.
The crush began around 7:40 pm at the Chorbagan Durga Puja in the Girish Park area. It was Saptami, the seventh day of the 10-day festival. Local media said heavy rain had pushed large crowds toward the exit gate and causing dangerous overcrowding. Earlier reports put the death toll at 17. Some reports said the victims included 13 women and a child.
Those arrested include the puja committee's secretary, Raj Kumar Sewda and vice president, Santanu Dubey. Police also detained Biplab Mukherjee who built the bamboo structure, and Koushik Saha and Pintu Dey, who were responsible for crowd control. Two private security in-charges, Suman Chakraborty and Rajesh Pal were also arrested.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said an announcement over the loudspeaker by the organisers triggered a rush. It is not yet clear what was announced. He added that relatives of two victims said a whistle blown by private security guards also caused panic among people waiting to enter.
After meeting the injured at Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, Adhikari urged theme-based puja organisers to provide proper lighting and enough entry and exit gates. "Many pandals are dimly lit in the name of theme puja" he said. "Lives of people are more valuable than themes."
The site has been handed to forensic experts, the police Special Task Force and the Fire Brigade for investigation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office announced 200,000 rupees for the families of the dead and 50,000 rupees for each injured person.
All official programmes including those of Union Home Minister Amit Shah have been postponed. Shah arrived in Kolkata on Saturday evening and had planned to visit some pandals on Sunday.
